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How Much Can an International Student Earn in Germany Per Month
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How Much Can an International Student Earn in Germany Per Month
Written by Isma Khalid
1. Germany's 2027 Minimum Wage and What It Means for Students
Germany's Minimum Wage Commission confirmed a two-stage increase: €13.90 per hour from January 2026, then €14.60 per hour from January 2027. This applies to every worker in the country over 18, including international students, part-time staff, and Minijob holders.
The minimum wage sets the floor for what any employer can legally pay, not the maximum a student can earn. Once you understand the hourly figure, the next step is mapping it against how many hours a student visa actually allows you to work.
2. Monthly Earnings on a Standard Part-Time Job
International students on a residence permit under Section 16b of the Residence Act may work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, which averages out to roughly 80 hours a month.
At the 2027 minimum wage, that works out as follows:
- 80 hours per month × €14.60 per hour = approximately €1,168 gross per month
- This generally applies even if your job has nothing to do with your field of study: retail, hospitality, warehouse work, or campus support roles all pay at least this rate
- During semester breaks, the weekly hour cap lifts entirely, so students often work closer to full-time hours and earn considerably more in those months
This baseline is useful for budgeting, but it is not the number most working students end up with once they move beyond minimum-wage roles.
3. Higher Earnings Through Field-Relevant Work
Jobs connected to your degree, commonly known as Werkstudent positions, pay noticeably above the statutory minimum. Employers in engineering, IT, business administration, and other in-demand fields typically offer between €16 and €18 per hour to student assistants who bring relevant coursework or skills.
At that rate, working the same 80 hours a month brings monthly earnings to between €1,280 and €1,440 gross, a meaningful jump over a minimum-wage role for the same number of hours. Werkstudent contracts also carry a practical advantage beyond pay: they build a German-language CV entry and professional references before graduation, both of which matter when applying for a post-study residence permit or job-seeker visa later.
4. Minijobs: A Lower-Effort, Tax-Free Alternative
Not every student wants or needs 20 hours of work per week. For lighter schedules, Germany's Minijob framework offers a simplified, largely tax-free arrangement capped at a fixed monthly earnings ceiling.
That ceiling is tied directly to the minimum wage and rises alongside it. For 2027, the Minijob ceiling lands at approximately €633 per month, calculated against a standard 43.33 monthly hours at the new €14.60 rate. Earn above that threshold and the job is reclassified, triggering standard social security deductions rather than the simplified Minijob treatment.
A Minijob suits students who prioritize flexibility and minimal paperwork over maximizing income. A standard part-time or Werkstudent role suits students who want to reach the full 80-hour monthly allowance and see meaningfully higher take-home pay. Neither choice affects your visa status as long as your total hours stay within the legal limit.
5. Annual Working Hours Limit for International Students in Germany
Alongside the 20-hour weekly cap during term, non-EU students face an annual limit of 140 full working days or 280 half-days per calendar year. A full day is any shift longer than four hours; a half-day is four hours or less. Exceeding either the weekly or annual limit can put your residence permit at risk, so tracking hours from your very first shift matters as much as the hourly rate itself.
Mandatory internships required by your degree program do not count toward this annual limit, which gives students extra room to take on paid work elsewhere without jeopardizing their allowance.
6. Earnings by Job Type
Put simply, your monthly income in 2027 depends on which type of job you take on:
- Minijob: up to approximately €633 per month, tax-free, capped hours, minimal paperwork
- Odd job or any minimum-wage part-time role: around €1,168 per month at 80 hours, regardless of field
- Working student (Werkstudent) job in a field relevant to your studies: between €1,280 and €1,440 per month at the same 80 hours, plus stronger CV value
Finances are only one piece of the puzzle. Getting to Germany in time for semester start, and settling your residence permit application once you arrive, matter just as much as the numbers above. VisaFlow helps international students move through both steps: securing the student visa on a timeline that gets you in the country before your semester begins, and guiding the residence permit application afterward so your right to study and work stays in order from day one.
📖Related Guides
Working as a Student in Germany (2025 Guide)
How to Find a Student Job in Germany
Understanding German Blocked Accounts: A Guide for International Students and Job Seekers
Can international students in Germany work full-time during semester breaks?
Yes. The 20-hour weekly cap only applies during the lecture period. Outside of term, students can work up to full-time hours, provided they stay within their annual allowance of 140 full days or 280 half-days.
Does a Minijob affect my student visa or health insurance?
No, as long as earnings stay under the monthly ceiling (approximately €633 in 2027) and total working hours remain within your visa's weekly and annual limits. Minijob income does not require standard income tax deductions.
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